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“Public safety is at risk if wildfire detection services are turned over to an automated system that has not been proven to work effectively in any other Canadian jurisdiction." - Bob Bymoen, SGEU President.
Regina (25 April 2013) – Protecting the public from the dangers of wildfires is most effectively done through human surveillance, and Saskatchewan’s current system is safe and sustainable, despite government plans to replace people with cameras, according to SGEU/NUPGE.
Public safety concerns with job eliminations
“Public safety is at risk if wildfire detection services are turned over to an automated system that has not been proven to work effectively in any other Canadian jurisdiction. Human surveillance should continue to be a key strategy in our province’s wildfire detection and prevention program,” says Bob Bymoen, President of the Saskachewan Government and General Employees' Union (SGEU/NUPGE).
Trained, experienced staff ensure safety of communities
“Staff who work as fire tower observers are trained, experienced professionals who have a long record of providing high-quality service to the Saskatchewan public. Most fire tower observers live in the areas where they work, and have a solid commitment to ensuring the safety and well-being of local communities,” Bymoen added.
As well as spotting fires, tower staff provide an important communications link between ground crews battling fires and base headquarters. Positioned in the fire zones, they ensure radio contact between the frontlines and those who make decisions and manage resources. Without fire tower observers, wildfire containment will be more difficult and more dangerous.
Wall government plan to cut jobs
Thirty-eight positions will be lost due to automation, mainly in northern communities. Ministries across government have been under pressure to cut public service jobs as a result of a plan launched in 2010 to cut 15 per cent of the government workforce over four years.
The Wall government has cited cost-savings and health and safety concerns for the elimination of jobs. SGEU/NUPGE says that workers are protected by strong safety guidelines and procedures.
“Is the Ministry of the Environment eliminating fire tower staff in order to meet their annual quota of job cuts?” asked Bymoen. “Does this have more to do with downsizing than with concerns about worker safety?”
No proof automated system better than humans
“In the absence of strong evidence to support the elimination of human surveillance in favour of an automated system, we urge government to reconsider this decision and keep trained fire tower staff on the job, protecting our forests and our communities,” says Bymoen.
NUPGE
The National Union of Public and General Employees (NUPGE) is one of Canada's largest labour organizations with over 340,000 members. Our mission is to improve the lives of working families and to build a stronger Canada by ensuring our common wealth is used for the common good. NUPGE